Storage bin

ABSTRACT

A bin includes a wall structure, a first lid, a second lid, and a frame that supports the wall structure. The first lid and the second lid removably secure to the wall structure. The frame permits movement of the wall structure between a first storage position whereby the second lid forms a bottom of the bin and a second storage position whereby the first lid forms a bottom of the bin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to storage bins and, moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a storage bin thatsimplifies cleaning as well as product redistribution.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Establishments that serve drinks to the public often store drinksin a bin located in a place where a customer may easily reach into thebin and retrieve a drink. The bin is typically filled with ice tomaintain the drinks at a suitably reduced temperature. While such a binoffers convenience to customers, it does suffer certain disadvantages.Customers rarely retrieve drinks from the bottom the bin, resulting inthe necessity of an establishment employee manually redistributingdrinks within the bin to prevent a drink from remaining in the binbeyond its useful shelf life.

[0005] Further, an ice filled bin is subject to bacteria growth on itsbottom. This growth is in the form of an unappealing slime that coatsthe bin as well as any drinks within the bin. The bin must be cleanedregularly to prevent this slime build-up; unfortunately, bin cleaning istedious, as it first requires the draining of the bin and the removingof any drinks within the bin. As a result, bin cleaning is infrequent,and customers are expected to ignore the slime.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a long felt need for a bin that simplifiescleaning as well as drink redistribution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a bin includes a wallstructure, a first lid, a second lid, and a frame that supports the wallstructure. The first lid and the second lid removably secure to the wallstructure via a plurality of latch assemblies. The frame permitsmovement of the wall structure between a first storage position wherebythe second lid forms a bottom of the bin and a second storage positionwhereby the first lid forms a bottom of the bin.

[0008] The bin further includes a bracket assembly mounted to the wallstructure and to the frame. The bracket assembly in an unlocked positionpermits movement of the wall structure between the first storageposition and the second storage position. The bracket assembly in alocked position secures the wall structure to the frame.

[0009] The bin still further includes a bearing assembly mounted to thewall structure and to the frame. The bearing assembly facilitatesrotational motion of the wall structure between the first storageposition and the second storage position.

[0010] A bin is moved from the first storage position to the secondstorage position by first securing the first lid to the wall structure.The bracket assembly is released, and the wall structure is rotatedabout the bearing assembly until the first lid rotates to a locationwhere the first lid forms a bottom of the bin. The bracket assembly isreturned to a position securing the wall structure to the frame, and thesecond lid is removed from the wall structure of the bin.

[0011] A bin is moved from the second storage position to the firststorage position by first securing the second lid to the wall structure.The bracket assembly is released, and the wall structure is rotatedabout the bearing assembly until the second lid rotates to a locationwhere the second lid forms a bottom of the bin. The bracket assembly isreturned to a position securing the wall structure to the frame, and thefirst lid is removed from the wall structure of the bin.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide abin that simplifies cleaning as well as product redistribution

[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a binmovable between a first storage position and a second storage position.

[0014] Still other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art inlight of the following.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bin according to thepreferred embodiment.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view illustrating the bin according tothe preferred embodiment.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a bracket assembly ofthe bin according to the preferred embodiment.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a latch assembly of thebin according to the preferred embodiment.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a side elevation view illustrating the bin according tothe preferred embodiment.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view illustrating movement of the binaccording to the preferred embodiment between a first storage positionand a second storage position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, a bin 10 includes a wallstructure 17, a first lid 15, and a second lid 16. The wall structure 17defines an enclosed area 18 adapted to receive drink containers and icetherein. Although in this preferred embodiment the wall structure 17defines a single enclosed area 18, those of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize that the wall structure 17 may include interior walls todivide the enclosed area 18 into compartments.

[0022] The wall structure 17 may be constructed from any suitablematerial, such as plastic, metal, or aluminum, and, in this preferredembodiment, includes sides 11-14. Each side 11-14 includes an interiorsurface and an exterior surface that define a space therebetween adaptedto receive therein an insulating material, such as foam. The sides 11-14may be formed integrally or may be secured together using any suitablemeans, such as welding or an adhesive. Although this preferredembodiment discloses the wall structure 17 as a box including sides11-14, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the wallstructure 17 may be any shape, such as circular.

[0023] The bin 10 includes a frame 19 that supports the wall structure17 and permits movement of the bin 10 between a first storage positionand a second storage position. The frame 19 includes a first leg 20secured to the wall structure 17 via a bearing assembly 22 and a secondleg 21 secured to the wall structure 17 via a bearing assembly 23. Thebearing assembly 22 includes a coupling 24 attached to the wallstructure 17 using any suitable means, such as bolts and a bearing 26press fit into an aperture through the first leg 20. A shaft 25 rigidlysecures to the coupling 24 and rotatably fits within the bearing 26 toconnect the first leg to the wall structure 17. Similarly, the bearingassembly 23 includes a coupling 27 attached to the wall structure 17using any suitable means, such as bolts and a bearing 29 press fit intoan aperture through the second leg 21. A shaft 28 rigidly secures to thecoupling 27 and rotatably fits within the bearing 29 to connect thesecond leg 21 to the wall structure 17. Although not required, the frame19 may include wheels to permit easier movement of the bin 10.

[0024] The bin 10 includes a bracket assembly 30 and a bracket assembly31 that lock the wall structure 17 respectively to the first leg 20 andthe second leg 21 to prevent undesired movement of the bin 10. Referringspecifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bracket assembly 30 includes abracket arm 33 pivotally secured to the first leg 20 via a pin 34 and afirst bracket 32 that includes a slot 35 adapted to receive therein thebracket arm 33 thereby locking the wall structure 17 to the first leg 20when the bin 10 is positioned in its first storage position. The pin 34permits rotation of the bracket arm 33 from a locked position within theslot 35 of the bracket 32 to an unlocked position removed from the slot35. The bracket assembly 30 further includes a second bracket 36 with aslot 37 that receives the bracket arm 33 therein thereby locking thewall structure 17 to the first leg 20 when the bin 10 is positioned inits second storage position. The bracket assembly 31 is identical instructure and operation to the bracket assembly 30. The bracket assembly31 accordingly will not be described more specifically herein.

[0025] The bin 10 includes the first lid 15 and the second lid 16 toalternately provide a bottom for the bin 10. In the first storageposition, the first lid 15 is removed from the wall structure 17, whilethe second lid 16 is attached to the wall structure 17 to furnish thebottom of the bin 10. Alternatively, in the second storage position, thesecond lid 16 is removed from the wall structure 17, while the first lid15 is attached to the wall structure 17 to furnish the bottom of the bin10. The second lid 16 is identical in structure and operation to thefirst lid 15. The second lid 16 accordingly will not be described morespecifically herein.

[0026] The first lid 15 may be constructed from any suitable material,such as plastic, metal, or aluminum, and, in this preferred embodiment,includes a top, bottom, and four sides that define a space therebetweenadapted to receive therein an insulating material, such as foam. Thetop, bottom, and four sides may be formed integrally or may be securedtogether using any suitable means, such as welding or an adhesive.Although this preferred embodiment discloses the first lid 15 as foursided, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the firstlid 15 may be any shape, such as circular.

[0027] The first lid 15 may include a gasket that provides a watertightseal between the first lid 15 and the wall structure 17. Furthermore, asillustrated in FIG. 4, the first lid 15 may include a groove 41 thatfits within a tongue 42 of the wall structure 17 to aid in the securingof the first lid 15 to the wall structure 17. The first lid 15 furtherincludes a drain hole 38 that connects to a drain to permit waterdrainage from the bin 10.

[0028] The bin 10 includes latch assemblies 39 that permit the securingof the first lid 15 to the wall structure 17. Similarly, the bin 10includes latch assemblies 40 that permit the securing of the second lid16 to the wall structure 17. The latch assemblies 40 are identical instructure and operation to the latch assemblies 39. The latch assemblies40 accordingly will not be described more specifically herein. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, a latch assembly 39 includes a lever 43 pivotallymounted to the first lid 15 and a catch 44 mounted to the wall structure17. The lever 43 engages the catch 44 to secure the first lid 15 to thewall structure 17.

[0029] In a first use of the bin 10 in its first storage position, thefirst lid 15 is removed from the wall structure 17, while the second lid16 forms the bottom of the bin 10 via its attachment to the wallstructure 17 by the latch assemblies 40. The drain hole of the secondlid 16 connects to a drain to permit water drainage from the bin 10. Thebin 10 is filled with ice and drink containers and is thus ready tosupply customers with chilled drinks.

[0030] When it is time to clean and restock the bin 10, the bin 10 maysimply be rotated from its first storage position to its second storageposition. Particularly, the bin 10 is first filled with ice and drinkcontainers. Second, the first lid 15 is placed over the wall structure17 and secured thereto via latch assemblies 39. Third, the drain hole ofthe second lid 16 is disconnected from the drain. Fourth, the bracketarm 33 of the bracket assembly 30 is pivoted away from the first bracket32 of the bracket assembly 30 thereby placing the bracket assembly 30 inits unlocked position. Similarly, the bracket arm of the bracketassembly 31 is pivoted away from the first bracket of the bracketassembly 31 thereby placing the bracket assembly 31 in its unlockedposition. Fifth, the bin 10 is rotated via the bearing assembly 22 andthe bearing assembly 23 as illustrated in FIG. 6 until the first lid 15forms the bottom of the bin 10 thereby placing the bin 10 in its secondstorage position. Sixth, the bracket arm 33 of the bracket assembly 30is pivoted to engage the second bracket 36 of the bracket assembly 30thereby placing the bracket assembly 30 in its locked position.Similarly, the bracket arm of the bracket assembly 31 is pivoted toengage the second bracket of the bracket assembly 31 thereby placing thebracket assembly 31 in its locked position. Seventh, the drain hole 38of the first lid 15 connects to the drain to permit water drainage fromthe bin 10. Finally, the second lid 16 is removed from the wallstructure 17 thereby exposing the drinks in the bin 10 to customers.When it is again time to clean and restock the bin 10, the bin 10 maysimply be rotated from its second storage position to its first storageposition, which is accomplished in a manner similarly to that previouslydescribed.

[0031] In allowing movement between a first storage position and asecond storage position, the bin 10 permits simplified redistribution ofdrink containers to ensure the oldest drinks are near the surface forcustomer consumption. Essentially, drink containers on the bottom of thebin 10 are transferred to the top of the bin 10 upon movement of the bin10 to either its first or second storage position. Furthermore, thecleaning of the bin 10 is simplified because movement of the bin 10 toeither its first storage position or its second storage position placesthe bottom portion of the bin 10 at the top portion. Thus, upon theremoval of either the first lid 15 or the second lid 16 from the wallstructure 17, the previous bottom of the bin 10 may be cleaned withoutthe necessity of removing all the ice and drink containers from the bin10. In addition, the top portion of the wall structure 17 may be cleanedas well.

[0032] Although the present invention has been described in terms of theforegoing preferred embodiment, such description has been for exemplarypurposes only and, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degreeswill fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope,accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoingdetailed description; rather, it is defined only by the claims thatfollow.

I claim:
 1. A bin, comprising: a wall structure; a first lid removablysecurable to the wall structure; a second lid removably securable to thewall structure; and a frame supporting the wall structure, wherein theframe permits movement of the wall structure between a first storageposition whereby the second lid forms a bottom of the bin and a secondstorage position whereby the first lid forms a bottom of the bin.
 2. Thebin according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket assembly mountedto the wall structure and to the frame, whereby the bracket assembly inan unlocked position permits movement of the wall structure between thefirst storage position and the second storage position and the bracketassembly in a locked position secures the wall structure to the frame.3. The bin according to claim 2, the bracket assembly, comprising: afirst bracket mounted at a first end of the wall structure; a secondbracket mounted at a second end of the wall structure; and a bracket armpivotably mounted to the frame and engageable with one of the firstbracket and the second bracket.
 4. The bin according to claim 1, furthercomprising a bearing assembly mounted to the wall structure and to theframe, whereby the bearing assembly facilitates rotational motion of thewall structure between the first storage position and the second storageposition.
 5. The bin according to claim 4, the bracket assembly,comprising: a coupling mounted to the wall structure; a bearing mountedto the frame; and a shaft rigidly mounted to the coupling and rotatablymounted to the bearing.
 6. The bin according to claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of latch assemblies mounted to the wall structureand to the first lid, whereby the plurality of latch assemblies securethe first lid to the wall structure.
 7. The bin according to claim 6,the plurality of latch assemblies, comprising: a lever pivotally mountedto the first lid; and a catch mounted to the wall structure, whereby thelever engages the catch to secure the first lid to the wall structure.8. The bin according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of latchassemblies mounted to the wall structure and to the second lid, wherebythe plurality of latch assemblies secure the second lid to the wallstructure.
 9. The bin according to claim 8, the plurality of latchassemblies, comprising: a lever pivotally mounted to the second lid; anda catch mounted to the wall structure, whereby the lever engages thecatch to secure the second lid to the wall structure.
 10. The binaccording to claim 1, the frame comprising a first leg and a second leg.11. The bin according to claim 1, the frame including wheels.
 12. Thebin according to claim 1, the first lid including a drain hole.
 13. Thebin according to claim 1, the second lid including a drain hole.
 14. Amethod of moving a bin between a first storage position and a secondstorage position, comprising: securing a first lid to a wall structureof the bin; releasing a bracket assembly securing the wall structure toa frame supporting the wall structure; rotating the wall structure abouta bearing assembly coupling the frame to the wall structure until thefirst lid rotates to a location where the first lid forms a bottom ofthe bin; returning the bracket assembly to a position securing the wallstructure to the frame; and removing a second lid from the wallstructure of the bin.
 15. The method of moving a bin between a firststorage position and a second storage position according to claim 14,further comprising coupling a drain hole of the first lid to a drain.16. The method of moving a bin between a first storage position and asecond storage position according to claim 14, further comprising:securing the second lid to the wall structure of the bin; releasing thebracket assembly securing the wall structure to the frame supporting thewall structure; rotating the wall structure about the bearing assemblycoupling the frame to the wall structure until the second lid rotates toa location where the second lid forms a bottom of the bin; returning thebracket assembly to a position securing the wall structure to the frame;and removing the first lid from the wall structure of the bin.
 17. Themethod of moving a bin between a first storage position and a secondstorage position according to claim 16, further comprising coupling adrain hole of the second lid to a drain.